Parents unmask anger over mandate
Lakeview students must wear face coverings as they return to class today
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CORTLAND -- Parents in the Lakeview Local School District said they want to have the choice of whether their children wear masks at school.
More than 60 parents and community members gathered Sunday afternoon at Pearl Park to inform Lakeview school administrators and the board of education they are against mandating all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks and want the district to make them optional.
Lakeview students start the academic year today, the first of the public schools to do so.
Parents at the gathering said it should be their decision on whether their sons or daughters wear masks, noting some children have health issues that make mask-wearing difficult. Parents also said the high school is not air conditioned, making masks in hot classrooms uncomfortable.
Students and teachers in Lakeview schools will return to in-person learning, with all students and staff wearing masks at all times when on school buses and in school facilities.
"This should drastically limit exposure and having to quarantine during the school year," Lakeview Schools Superintendent Velina Jo Taylor said.
She noted that both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health strongly encourage mask wearing when students are inside buildings.
"With what is happening with the delta variant, we believe this is the best course of action to keep our kids and our employees safe," Taylor said.
Taylor said the district has decided not to place a time limit on the mask policy.
"It is a tough time for schools and everyone," she said.
She said masks are required to be on at all time except when children are eating lunch. Taylor said K-8 teachers give their students "mask breaks" where they have students stand apart from one another and remove masks, usually outdoors.
Taylor said she and building principals are available to address parents' questions over masks.
State Rep. Michael Loychik, R-Bazetta, who has a child in the Lakeview schools, said he does not believe the mask mandate will be beneficial for the students.
"The masks are detrimental to their health. The masks need to be optional and the parents' decision. I am glad we have this many people here to talk about this. We need to get everyone together in the community and address the school board and superintendent about them pushing this mask mandate. To me, this an overreach by the school board and the superintendent," Loychik said of plans to attend the Sept. 13 school board meeting.
Jim Bradley, a parent with two children in the district, said he believes the decision for a child to wear a mask should be the parents' choice.
"It should be a parent's choice to choose what they wish for their children. Lakeview schools does not have to be a co-parent in our own lives. We are not against masks or vaccines. This is for your choice in deciding what you feel is best for your child. We want the opportunity to make choices for our own families. If you want your son or daughter to wear three masks, fine. If you want your son or daughter to not wear a mask that is OK, too. It seems like the district does not understand what we are asking. We want the choice to decide when it comes to our children's health. We respect the different choices parents may have. We are just asking for a choice and whatever we choose that is now on us," Bradley said.
Angela Campana, a parent with children in the district and a teacher, said younger children watch their teacher's mouth and lips move when pronouncing words to help them learn to read, but when everyone wears a mask, the children can't see this.
Taylor Pease, who also has children in the district, said while he supports a parent's decision to get his / her children vaccinated and also wear a mask, he does not support the mandates for parents who choose for their children not to wear masks.
Pease said he applauds the teachers and all they have done during the pandemic to teach remotely and also wear masks themselves.
Paul and Christina Farr, parents and teachers, said they had to fill out a medical exemption form because one of their children has a medical issue that may be affected by wearing a mask and another child had recent surgery.
"My concern is what mandate will be next after this," Paul Farr said.
Parents said school administrators told them if there is quarantining and school has to close, grades kindergarten to eighth will have paper packet assignments and grades nine to 12 will have online lessons.